Just looked at the extended league table for Div 1 & it would seemthat the 3 clubs ground sharing are having real probs getting home games on.So how much influence do the hosts have on calling off matches as i thought you needed a ref.Bet Team Bury , Braintree Res & C.U.P all getting a bit p$*%d off now.

Went to Braintree Reserves away at Whitton Utd at the weekend, they have not had a home game since the 17th November, but to be fair Braintree (1st team) conference side have lost quite a few too to the weather, Lincoln was the last one.

Team Bury are even worse off, they will have to play 4 times a week for the rest of the season to get games in.C.U.P not much better as they got cup games also & don't know how they will fit any more in if the weather claims anymore fixtures.

Yes the sight of a black cloud in the distance is enough reason for them to cancel!I thought a ref would have to make the decision?But i suppose if its a local ref then they easily get their arm twisted.

I fear as you say, when the worse weather comes we will see the same as last year. Braintree went months without a home game being played and then had 7 home games at the end of the season after completing their away fixtures. I expect to see all the Reserves teams to be similar come the end of October early November to February.

For First Team games, only the appointed match referee (or if it is impractical for him to get to the ground) or a referee of an equivalent or higher level can call matches off due to the state of the pitch.For Reserve and Youth Team matches, the CLUB has the final say over the state of the pitch and whether games can be played or not. So it is not totally unexpected that Reserve and Youth Team matches are called off in order to save the pitch for first team games. After all, Clubs don't make any money from Reserve or Youth Team matches.

MarkInGorleston wrote:BUT, those teams like Braintree, Bury, Needham etc are playing in a first team league, so wouldn't they be treated the same way as the likes of Cornard, Long Melford etc are treated.?

Yes Mark, you are right. I kind of mis read your previous post of Reserve Teams!

Just to clarify:Step 6 teams (TN Div.1) and Step 5 teams (TN Prem) need to have the game postponed by a the match referee or a ref of equivalent level or higher.

Well its been 15 weeks since the last home games table.In that time Sudbury have managed 2 more home games & Braintree 3 more!The front runners now are Dereham who have squeezed a further 6 home games.Table now,